Keith Pompey

Inquirer Staff Writer

Not too long ago I talked to a scout from a Western Conference team who has had tremendous success in building one of the preeminent teams in the league for the better part of the last decade and a half.

I asked him for his take on Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday a little over one week ago and he was clear that Holiday has the potential to at least approach the level of elite point guards in the NBA.

However, when I asked him about last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Evan Turner, he expressed some reservations that I thought were interesting.

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"I’m interested myself to see how Evan turns out," said the scout, who requested anonymity. "He had a slow start in college relative to where he ended up. It seemed like his game turned a corner when the ball was put in his hands, and he’s a guy that seems to be at his best when the ball is put in his hands a lot."

Sixers coach Doug Collins is going to make a point of putting the ball in Turner’s hands when he’s on the floor, so Collins has clearly bought into the consensus out there on Turner. The Scout seemed to think that his progress will hinge on this.

"I wonder if his development, growth and ability to impact the game are going to depend on that," he said. "And if it is, is he going to get the opportunity to maintain control of the ball that much… I really am just as curious where that turns out myself. He’s obviously improved this summer and worked hard. But overall, I think that one is a little less predictable, especially relative to where he was picked and what standard he’s trying to live up to based on his college career."